PSA: 3 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 (#236 - #238)

Sat, Apr 03, 2021

 

Algoma Public Health (APH) is reporting 3 new cases of COVID-19, all from Sault Ste. Marie and area.

In addition, Algoma Public Health is working to identify and notify high risk close contacts for a potential exposure at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre.

If you worked or were at the facility on:

• March 29, 2021 from 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
• March 30, 2021 from 6:30 am – 6:30 pm
• March 31, 2021 from 6:30 am – 7 pm
• April 1, 2021 from 2:30 pm – 11 pm

You are advised to:

• Get testing for COVID-19 immediately. Until test results are available, you and anyone you live with in your household must stay home and self-isolate and call Algoma Public Health for further instructions at 705-942-4646 , ext. 3274.  Phone lines will be open Sunday April 4, 2021 at 9:00 am. 
• Even if your results come back negative, and even if you are not identified by APH as a high risk close contact requiring quarantine and additional testing, you must continue to monitor your symptoms for 14 days since your last exposure date and stay home as much as possible except for essential reasons.
• Indoor gatherings, of any size, are prohibited during the provincewide shutdown, except for people you live with in your own household.

Details of the confirmed cases:

 

Definitions under exposure category:

 

Unknown exposure means the person did not have recent international travel or close contact with a known confirmed case.  How the person acquired the virus is not known. 

 

Close contact means the person acquired their infection through close contact with a known confirmed case.  For example, living together with a case, or spending more than 15 minutes with a case while less than 2 metres apart, are considered high risk close contact exposures.

 

International travel means the person acquired their infection from travel outside of Canada.

Critical Actions:

• Anyone who is ill, even with mild symptoms, must stay home and self-isolate away from others.
• Stay home as much as possible, and avoid gathering, visiting or having close contact with people you don’t live with.
• As of April 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., the provincial government has implemented a provincewide emergency brake that will last for four weeks and puts all 34 public health units into shutdown.  The Chief Medical Officer of Health is advising all Ontarians to limit trips outside the home to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members, or exercising outdoors with members of their household.  Employers in all industries should make every effort to allow employees to work from home.
• All returning international travellers must stay home for 14 days.
• Algoma residents who regularly cross the Canada - U.S. border into Sault Ste. Marie and into Chippewa County for essential work should take the following actions even if you are exempt from federal travel and quarantine restrictions
  • Avoid travel except for essential reasons and avoid travelling between zones except for essential reasons
  • Avoid cross-border travel and use virtual options if possible
  • If you become sick, isolate away from others and call to get tested for COVID-19
  • Once back in Algoma, follow provincial public health advice for all Ontarians by staying home as much as possible and not having close contact with people you do not live with, especially vulnerable people who are elderly or have underlying health conditions.
• As of October 2, 2020, the mandatory masking policy was extended to all of Ontario for all indoor settings across the province, such as businesses, facilities and workplaces.

Learn more:

• View our webpage with updated status of cases in Algoma. 
• Learn more about COVID-19 in Algoma.
• Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about the province’s response to COVID-19.